A BC teacher who had a sexual relationship with a recently graduated student has been barred from teaching for life.

According to a Sept. 8 BC Commissioner for Teacher Regulation decision, Theodore Donald Ewald began the relationship with the student, who was Indigenous and described as vulnerable, five months after she graduated.

“Ewald violated his privileged position of power and trust arising from his role as (the) student’s teacher, including in learning associated with their Indigenous identity,” the Commissioner said.

The decision says he taught the student “land-based education” at an unnamed high school and the student was interested because it was connected to their Indigenous culture.

After they graduated, Ewald stayed in contact with the student, and roughly five months later took them on an overnight trip where they had sexual intercourse.

The relationship lasted about six months.

“Approximately two months after the sexual relationship ended, Ewald told (the) student that their relationship was over and that he was going to delete and block them from his phone and that they should do the same,” the decision reads.

It’s not clear what year the relationship took place, but in March 2025, Ewald resigned from the school district. He’d been registered to teach in BC since 2008.

Ewald, who appears to have been teaching in Terrace and is in his late 50s, signed a consent agreement with the regulator admitting to the relationship.

“In the consent resolution agreement, Ewald agreed to a lifetime ban on reapplication,” the decision reads.

The regulator says a lifetime ban is appropriate in the circumstances.

“Ewald harmed (the) student’s emotional safety and well-being,” the regulator said.

No other information is given in the decision.